Fishing line guide, reel seat and fishing rod including the same

ABSTRACT

A fishing line guide includes an attachment portion, a support leg frame, a support leg portion and a guide ring portion. The support leg frame extends from a base end of the attachment portion and is integrally formed with the attachment portion. The attachment portion and the support leg frame are made of a metallic material. The support leg portion extends from the base end of the attachment portion and is composited with the support leg frame throughout the overall length of the support leg frame. The guide ring portion is located at a tip end of the support leg portion. A fishing line passes through the guide ring portion. The support leg portion and the guide ring portion are partially or wholly made of a plastic material. A sectional area of the support leg frame gradually decreases toward the tip end of the support leg frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/889,307, filed Nov. 5, 2015, which is a 35 U.S.C §371national stage filing of International Application No.PCT/JP2014/060924, filed on Apr. 17, 2014, which claims the benefit ofKorean Patent Application No. 2013-0086948, tiled on Jul. 23, 2013, theentire contents of both of which are incorporated by reference in theirentireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a part attached to a fishing rod and,more particularly, to a fishing rod part such as a fishing line guide, areel seat, etc. Further, the present invention relates to a fishing rodhaving such a fishing rod part.

BACKGROUND

A part for guiding a fishing line, which is called a fishing line guide,or a part for reeling in and reeling out a fishing line, which is calleda reel, is attached to a fishing rod. The fishing line guide has anattachment portion which contacts the outer peripheral surface of thefishing rod. The fishing line guide is attached to the fishing rod bybringing the attachment portion into contact with the fishing rod andwinding a winding thread around the attachment portion to fix theattachment portion to the fishing rod. The reel can be mounted on a reelseat having an attachment portion which contacts the outer peripheralsurface of the fishing rod. The reel seat is attached to the fishing rodby bringing the attachment portion of the reel seat into contact withthe fishing rod and winding a winding thread around the attachmentportion to fix the attachment portion to the fishing rod.

By way of an example of the aforementioned fishing rod part, KoreanUtility Model Registration Publication No. 20-0366928 (PatentDocument 1) discloses a fishing line guide for guiding a fishing line.By way of another example of the aforementioned fishing rod part, KoreanUtility Model Registration Publication No. 20-0302033 (Patent Document2) discloses a reel seat for mounting a reel for reeling in and reelingout a fishing line.

Patent Document 1: Korean Utility Model Registration Publication No.20-0366928

Patent Document 2: Korean Utility Model Registration Publication No.20-0302033

SUMMARY

A fishing line guide is a part through which a fishing line passes. Thefishing line guide distributes and transmits a load applied to a fishingline to a fishing rod. Further, when a fishing rig is cast, the fishingline guide guides a fishing line reeled out from a reel. As to designfactors for a fishing line guide, it may be considered the following: astructural strength; weight reduction; a shape for fixation between afishing line guide and a winding thread for attachment to a fishing rod;a shape for not causing the fishing line to be caught; and so forth.

To sufficiently ensure the strength of the fishing line guide, thefishing line guide has been made of a metallic material. FIG. 23Aillustrates that a fishing line guide wholly made of a metallic materialis attached to a fishing rod. A fishing line guide 20 of a prior artshown in FIG. 23A has an attachment portion 21 which contacts a fishingrod 10, a support leg portion 22 which extends from the attachmentportion 21, and a guide ring portion 23 which is formed at a tip end ofthe support leg portion 22 and through which a fishing line passes. Awinding thread 11 is wound throughout the overall length of theattachment portion 21 and a coating layer 12 is formed by applying anadhesive on a portion around which the winding thread 11 is wound,thereby attaching the fishing line guide 20 to the fishing rod 10.

Regarding winding the winding thread 11, it is important to closely windthe winding thread 11 in order to ensure the fine appearance of aportion in the fishing rod 10 around which the winding thread is woundand to ensure a fixation strength under which the attachment portion 21is not detached from the fishing rod. For this reason, it is requiredthat the attachment portion 21, around which the winding thread 11 iswound, has no step portion and a tip end portion of the attachmentportion 21 is formed smooth and thin. Further, in a process of attachingthe attachment portion to the fishing rod, it is important that asubsequently-wound winding thread is not wound on the previously-woundwinding thread 11. In other words, it is important that the windingthread 11 is not wound in two or more layers through a single process.This is because, if an adhesive is applied on a portion at which thewinding thread 11 is wound in two or more layers, then step portions arecreated in the cured coating layer 12. This is also because that suchstep portions may impair the fine appearance and may cause the fishingline to be caught during fishing.

To improve casting and sensitivity of fishing, the weight reduction of afishing rod is required and thus studies related thereto have been madein the art. In addition, studies on weight reduction of the parts to beattached to a fishing rod have been made in the art. The fishing lineguide 20 shown in FIG. 23A is made of metal and therefore has a limit inachieving the weight reduction. There exists a fishing line guide usinga plastic material lighter than metal (e.g., a fiber-reinforced plastic)as a material of a fishing line guide. FIG. 23B illustrates fishing lineguide that is wholly made of a fiber-reinforced plastic.

The fishing line guide 30 shown in FIG. 23B has an attachment portion 31and a support leg portion 32 which are thicker than those of themetallic fishing line guide 20 shown in FIG. 23A. This is because aconnection portion 34 between the attachment portion 31 and the supportleg portion 32, to which the heaviest load is applied, is formed thickwith a large radius of curvature due to the elastic modulus and strengthof a plastic material less than those of a metallic material in order toreinforce the elastic modulus and the strength required by the fishingline guide. If the winding thread 11 is wound around the connectionportion 34 formed thick with a large radius of curvature, then thewinding thread 11 is prone to be wound in two or more layers because asubsequently-wound winding thread is placed on a previously-woundwinding thread. This creates the aforementioned step portion in thecoating layer 12. Further, since the fishing line guide 30 shown in FIG.23B has difficulties in making a tip end portion of the attachmentportion 31 smooth and thin, it has the attachment portion 31 thickerthan that of the metallic fishing line guide 20. This is because themolded attachment portion tends to have defects due to the phenomenonthat a molten plastic material is not sufficiently injected to a portionof a mold which forms the tip end portion of the attachment portion, andbecause burrs tends to create due to poor machining precision of themold. The thick attachment portion 31 becomes a big protrusion portionof the fishing rod 10. Thus, the thick attachment portion impairs thefine appearance although the winding thread is wound around theattachment portion and is then coated.

By way of do alternative to the metallic fishing line guide, it may beconsidered to manufacture a fishing line guide by prepreg laminatemolding, i.e. laminate molding of resin pre-impregnated material. FIG.23C illustrates a fishing guide 40 that is wholly made of afiber-reinforced plastic by prepreg laminate molding. In the fishingline guide 40 manufactured by prepreg laminate molding, a tip endportion 45 of an attachment portion 41 cannot become thinner toward itstip end but is designed to be thick. This is because, if the tip endportion 45 of the attachment portion 41 is cut to be thin, then thelaminated layers tends to delaminate or the fibers tend to be nappy.Thus, the winding thread 11 is wound in several layers in the front ofthe thick tip end portion 45 of the attachment portion 41. Further, aconnection portion 44 between the attachment portion 41 and the supportleg portion 42 is formed thick with a large radius of curvature. This isbecause of the problem that the fibers are broken when the prepreglaminate is heavily bent. Accordingly, even in this case, the windingthread 11 is wound in two or more layers and the aforementioned stepportion of coating layer 12 is created accordingly.

Among the above-described fishing lane guides of the prior art, thefishing line guide, which is made of a plastic material such as afiber-reinforced plastic for the weight reduction of the fishing lineguide, inevitably has the thick connection portion of the tip endportion. Thus, they cannot achieve a thin and smooth tip end of theattachment portion and close winding of the winding thread. A such, thefishing line guides of the prior art fail to make the design factorscompatible such as the pursuit of weight reduction, the satisfaction ofrequired strength, the securement of a fine appearance and theprevention of creation of a step portion.

The present invention is made to solve the aforementioned problems ofthe prior art. It is an objective of the present invention to provide afishing rod part, which is light while ensuring a required strength,which improves a fine appearance of the winding thread-wound portion,and which does not create a step portion causing a fishing line to becaught, and to provide a fishing rod including such a fishing rod part.

One aspect of the present invention provides a fishing line guide thatis attached to a fishing rod and guides a fishing line. In an exemplaryembodiment, the fishing line guide includes an attachment portion, asupport leg frame, a support leg portion and a guide ring portion. Theattachment portion has a tip end and a base end contacts the fishingrod. A winding thread is wound around the attachment portion. Thesupport leg frame extends from the base end of the attachment portionand is integrally formed with the attachment portion. The attachmentportion and the support leg frame are made of a metallic material. Thesupport leg portion extends from the base end of the attachment portion.The support leg portion is composited with the support lea framethroughout at least the overall length of the support leg frame and issmoothly formed without a step portion in a longitudinal direction. Theguide ring portion is located at a tip end of the support leg portion. Afishing line passes through the guide ring portion. The support legportion and the guide ring portion are partially or wholly made of aplastic material. A tip end of the support leg frame is located belowthe tip end of the support leg portion and does not adjoin the guidering portion. A sectional area of at least a portion of the support legframe gradually decreases toward the tip end of the support frame.

In an embodiment, the attachment portion has a lower surface contactingthe fishing rod and an upper surface opposite to the lower surface andthe support leg portion is composited with the support leg frame so asto contact the upper surface. In such an embodiment, a length or arearatio of a portion of the upper surface, which does not contact thesupport leg portion, to the entirety of the upper surface may be 80% ormore.

In an embodiment, the attachment portion has a lower surface contactingthe fishing rod and an upper surface opposite to the lower surface. Thesupport leg portion is composited with the support leg frame with a gapbetween the support leg portion and the upper surface. In such anembodiment, a size of the gap is 2 mm or less. Further, at a surface ofthe support leg frame which is opposite to a surface of the support legframe with the gap, at least a portion of the support leg portion is incontact with the fishing rod.

In an embodiment, a range of cross-sectional composition between thesupport leg frame and the support leg, portion may be 50% to 100% of across-sectional periphery of the support leg frame.

In an embodiment, the support leg frame comprises a pair of support legframes extending from the base end of the attachment portion. Respectivebase portions of the pair of the support leg frames, which are connectedto the base end of the attachment portion, may be integrally formed viaa common portion.

In an embodiment, the support leg frame has an intermediate having aconstant sectional area. A sectional area of the support leg framegradually decreases from the intermediate portion toward the tip end ofthe support leg frame.

In an embodiment, the support leg frame has at least one concaveportion. In an embodiment, the metallic material of which the attachmentportion and the support leg frame are made comprises one or more oftitanium, aluminum, magnesium, titanium alloy, aluminum alloy, magnesiumalloy, stainless steel and shape memory alloy. The plastic material ofwhich the support leg portion and the guide ring portion are partiallyor wholly made comprises a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced plastic. Thesupport leg portion and the guide ring portion are formed by insertmolding.

In an embodiment, the metallic material of which the attachment portionand the support leg frame are made comprises one or more of titanium,aluminum, magnesium, titanium alloy, aluminum alloy, magnesium alloy,stainless steel and shape memory alloy. The support leg portion and theguide ring portion are formed by laminate molding of resinpre-impregnated material.

Another aspect of the present invention related to a reel seat attachedto a fishing rod for mounting a reel thereon. In an exemplaryembodiment, the reel seat includes an attachment portion, a support legframe and a seat body. The attachment portion has a tip end and a baseend and contacts the fishing rod. A winding thread is wound around theattachment portion. The support leg frame extends from the base end ofthe attachment portion and is integrally formed with the attachmentportion. The attachment portion and the support leg frame are made of ametallic material. The seat body is partially or wholly made of aplastic material. A reel is mounted on the seat body. The seat bodyextends from the base end of the attachment portion and is compositedwith the support leg frame throughout at least the overall length of thesupport leg frame. A sectional area of at least a portion of the supportleg frame gradually decreases toward a tip end of the support leg frame.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a fishing rodincluding the above-described fishing line guide or the above-describedreel seat. The fishing rod according to an embodiment includes at leastone above-described fishing line guide. Further, the fishing rodaccording to an embodiment includes the above-described reel seat.Furthermore, the fishing rod according to an embodiment includes theabove-described fishing line guide and reel seat.

In the fishing line guide and the reel seat according to theembodiments, the attachment portion and the support leg frame, whichextends from the attachment portion and is composited with the supportleg portion or the reel seat body, are made of a metallic material andare integrally formed. In contrast, the support leg portion or the reelseat body is partially or wholly made of a plastic material and iscomposited up to the connection portion between the attachment portionand the support leg frame. Accordingly, the fishing line guide and thereel seat are lighter than parts of the prior art which are wholly madeof a metallic material. Further, the attachment portion can be formedthin. Also, the connection portion between the attachment portion andthe support leg frame is prevented from being damaged or broken. Thefine appearance is not impaired when the winding thread is wound aroundthe attachment portion. No step portion is created.

Further, since the support leg portion comprised with the support legframe throughout at least the overall length of the support leg frame,the support leg portion and the support leg frame are smoothly formedwithout a step portion in the longitudinal direction. Thus, although thefishing line is wound around the guide ring portion of the fishing lineguide during casting; and thus the entanglement of the fishing lineoccurs, the folded portion of the fishing line formed around the fishingline guide is smoothly moved along the support leg portion, therebyeasily detangling the entanglement of the fishing line.

The tip end of the support leg frame is located below the tip end of thesupport leg portion and does not adjoin the guide ring portion. Thus,the tip end portion of the support leg portion and the guide ringportion, both of which are located above the fishing rod, become lightand the torsional moment acting about the axis of the fishing rod duringcasting is relieved. This provides an effect of performing accurate andstable casting.

When landing a fish, a tension is applied to the fishing line and a loadis transmitted to the guide ring portion. Under the moment of forcegenerated by such a load, it is preferable that the strength balance ofthe support leg portion gradually decreases toward the guide ringportion. Since the support leg frame has a sectional area graduallydecreasing toward the tip end, the support leg portion can be formedlight and thin while ensuring the strength balance of the whole of thesupport leg portion. Further, the support leg frame having theabove-described configuration is smoothly composited with the supportleg portion during the insert molding, thus achieving superior partworkability. Further, the tip end portion of the support leg frame haslow rigidity and superior flexibility, thus preventing a separationbetween the support leg frame and the support leg portion, which arecomposited together, when the support leg portion elastically deforms.

Accordingly, the present invention can provide a fishing rod part, whichis light while ensuring a required strength, which improves a fineappearance of the winding thread-wound portion, and which does notcreate a step portion causing a fishing line to be caught, and a fishingrod including such a fishing rod part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fishing rod to which a fishingline guide according to one embodiment of the present invention isattached.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a fishing line guide according toone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an attachment portion and supportleg frames of the fishing line guide shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4A is a first view showing various examples of a concave portionformed in the vicinity of a tip end portion of the support leg frame.

FIG. 4B is a second view showing various examples of a concave portionformed in the vicinity of a tip end portion of the support leg frame.

FIG. 4C is a third view showing various examples of a concave portionformed in the vicinity of a tip end portion of the support leg frame.

FIG. 4D is a fourth view showing various examples of a concave portionformed in the vicinity of a tip end portion of the support leg frame.

FIG. 5A is a first view showing a composition example of a support legframe and a support leg portion by cross-section.

FIG. 5B is a second view showing a composition example, of a support legframe and a support leg portion by cross-section.

FIG. 5C is a third view showing a composition example of a support legframe and a support leg portion by cross-section.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing that a fishing lineguide according to one embodiment of the present invention is in contactwith a fishing rod.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing that a winding thread iswound around the fishing line guide shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing that a fishing lineguide having a gap formed between a lower end of a support leg portionand an upper surface is in contact with a fishing rod.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing that a winding thread iswound around the fishing line guide shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a fishing line guide according oanother embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an attachment portion and supportleg frames of the fishing line guide shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a fishing line guide according toa further Embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an attachment portion and asupport leg frame of the fishing line guide shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a fishing line guide according toyet another embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an attachment portion, support legframes, an auxiliary attachment portion and an auxiliary support legframe of the fishing line guide shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16A is a first view schematically showing a laminate molding methodof resin pre-impregnated materials for a fishing line guide according toone embodiment.

FIG. 16B is a second view schematically showing a laminate moldingmethod of resin pre-impregnated materials for a fishing line guideaccording to one embodiment.

FIG. 16C is a third view schematically showing a laminate molding methodof resin pre-impregnated materials for a fishing line guide according toone embodiment.

FIG. 17A is a first view showing an example of a fishing line guideaccording to one embodiment which has a support leg portion structureallowing the fishing line entanglement in the fishing line guide to bedisentangled during casting.

FIG. 178 is a second view showing an example of a fishing line guideaccording to one embodiment which has a support leg portion structureallowing the fishing line entanglement in the fishing line guide to bedisentangled during casting.

FIG. 17C is a third view showing an example of a fishing line guideaccording to one embodiment which has a support leg portion structureallowing the fishing line entanglement in the fishing line guide to bedisentangled during casting.

FIG. 17D is a fourth view showing an example of a fishing line guideaccording to one embodiment which has a support leg portion structureallowing the fishing entanglement in the fishing line guide to bedisentangled during casting.

FIG. 17E is a fifth view showing an example of a fishing line guideaccording to one embodiment which has a support leg portion structureallowing the fishing line entanglement in the fishing line guide to bedisentangled during casting.

FIG. 18A is a first view showing an example of a fishing line guidewhich has a support leg portion structure failing to disentangle thefishing line entanglement.

FIG. 18B is a second view showing an example of a fishing line guidewhich has a support leg portion structure failing to disentangle thefishing line entanglement.

FIG. 18C is a third view showing an example of a fishing line guidewhich has a support leg portion structure failing to disentangle thefishing line entanglement.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a fishing rod to which a reel seataccording to one embodiment of the present invention is attached.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a reel seat according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a top view of the reel seat shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing attachment portions and supportleg frames of the reel seat shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 23A is a first longitudinal sectional view showing a fishing lineguide of a prior art.

FIG. 23B is a second longitudinal sectional view showing a fishing lineguide of a prior art.

FIG. 23C third longitudinal sectional view showing a fishing line guideof a prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Descriptions are made as to embodiments of a fishing line guide, a reelseat and a fishing rod including the same with reference to theaccompanying drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denotelike or corresponding elements or parts.

The directional term “frontward,” “front” or the like as used hereinmeans a direction directed toward a tip of a fishing rod, while thedirectional term “rearward,” “rear” or the like means a directiondirected toward a butt of a fishing rod. Further, as used herein, thedirectional term “upward,” “upper” or the like is based on a directionin which a guide ring portion is positioned relative to an attachmentportion, while the directional term “downward,” “lower” or the likemeans a direction opposite to the upward or upper direction.

Embodiments disclosed herein are related to a fishing line guide and areel seat which are examples of a part for a fishing rod. The fishingline guide is attached to a fishing rod and guides a fishing line. Thereel seat is attached to a fishing rod and is used for mounting a reel.The fishing rod part to which the principle of the present invention isapplied is not limited to the aforementioned fishing line guide and reelseat. The fishing rod part includes any part which is configured suchthat its attachment portion is attached to a rod body of a fishing rodby means of a winding thread.

FIG. 1 shows a fishing rod to which a fishing rod part of the presentinvention is attached. The fishing rod 100 may have a structure whereina plurality of thin and long cylindrical rods are consecutively joinedin a put-in manner or a telescopic manner. Alternatively, the fishingrod 100 may comprise a single rod. FIG. 1 shows a portion of the fishingrod 100. To attach the fishing rod part to the fishing rod, a windingthread 110 is wound around a portion of the fishing rod part to beattached to the fishing rod. The winding thread 110 comprises, but isnot limited to, a nylon material or a silk material. To fix the windingthread 110, to prevent unwinding of the winding thread 110, and to fillin the winding thread 110, a transparent, translucent or opaque adhesiveis applied to the whole of the portion around which the winding thread110 is wound, then forming a coating layer 120 that covers the portionaround which the winding thread 110 is wound. Said adhesive comprises,but is not limited to, an epoxy-based adhesive, a urethane basedadhesive and a UV-curable adhesive or the like.

The fishing rod 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes, at a portion thereof, afishing line guide 200 which is an example of the fishing rod part. Thefishing rod 100 may include one or a plurality of fishing line guides200. The fishing line guide 200 is attached to the fishing rod 100 bybringing its attachment portion into contact with the fishing rod 100and then closely winding the winding thread 110 around the attachmentportion. After the fishing line guide 200 is attached, the adhesive isapplied to the portion around which the winding thread 110 is wound andthus the coating layer 120 is formed. Due to the coating layer 120, theportion around which the winding thread 110 is wound has a smoothsurface.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the fishing line guide 200 in detail. The fishingline guide 200 according to one embodiment includes the following: anattachment portion 210 attached to the fishing rod 100; a support legframe 220 extending from a base end of the attachment portion 210 andintegrated with the attachment portion 210; a support leg portion 230extending from the base end of the attachment portion 210, the supportleg portion 230 being composited with the support leg frame 220throughout at least the overall length of the support leg frame 220 andformed smoothly without a step portion in a longitudinal directionthereof; a guide ring portion 240, through which a fishing line passes,located at a tip end of the support leg portion 230; and a hard ring 250fitted to the guide ring portion 240 and thrilled in a circular or ovalshape by ceramic, metal or the like.

The attachment portion 210 is a part that contacts the fishing rod 100to attach the fishing line guide 200 to the fishing rod 100. Theattachment portion 210 has a tip end 213 and a base end 214. Theattachment portion 210 has a narrow and elongated shape as a whole andbecomes thinner toward the tip end 213 when viewed from side. A lowersurface 212 of the attachment portion 210 contacts an outer peripheralsurface of the fishing rod 100. The lower surface 212 may be formed flator may be formed concavely with a small curvature. A tip end portion 215of the attachment portion 210 becomes thinner and narrower toward thetip end 213.

The support leg frame 220 extends from the base end 214, which islocated opposite to the tip end 213 of the attachment portion 210. Inthis embodiment, the fishing line guide 200 has a pair of support legframes 220 extending in a V-like shape from the base end 214 of theattachment portion 210. Alternatively, the pair of the support legframes 220 may extend in a U-like shape from the base end 214 of theattachment portion 210. The attachment portion 210 and the support legframes 220 are metallic and are integrated together. The metallicmaterial for forming the integrated attachment portion 210 and supportleg frames 220 comprises titanium, aluminum, magnesium, titanium alloy,aluminum alloy, magnesium alloy, stainless steel or shape memory alloy.The metallic material for forming the attachment portion 210 and thesupport leg frames 220 is not limited to the aforementioned materials,but may comprise any metal or its alloy which has high strength andsuperior thin formability.

A base portion 221 of each of the support leg frames 220 is connected tothe base end 214 of the attachment portion 210. In this embodiment, thebase portions 221 of the respective support leg frames 220 areintegrally formed via a common portion 224. The overall length of thesupport leg frame 220 may be determined in view of the composition ofthe support leg frame and the support leg portion 230 and the positionof the guide ring portion 240. The support leg frame 220 may havevarious cross-sectional shapes such as a circular shape, an ellipticalshape, a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, a polygonal shape, etc.In the illustrated example, the support leg frame 220 has a rectangularcross-sectional shape.

The support leg frame 220 is formed such that the sectional area in itspartial section or its whole section gradually decreases toward the tipend 223. Herein, that the sectional area of the support leg frame 220gradually decreases toward the tip end includes the following case:where the longitudinal-sectional area of the support leg frame 220 inits partial or whole section gradually decreases toward the tip end 223;where the cross-sectional area of the support leg frame in its partialor whole section gradually decreases toward the tip end 223; or wherethe aforementioned two cases are applied together. The tip end of thesupport leg frame 220 is located below the tip end of the support legportion 230 (below the interface between the support leg portion 230 andthe guide ring portion 240) and does not adjoin the guide ring portion240.

Referring to FIG. 3, the cross-sectional area of the support leg frame220 is largest at the base portion 221 adjacent to the base end 214 ofthe attachment portion 210, while gradually decreasing toward the tipend 223 of the support leg frame 220. The tip end 223 of the support legframe 220 is formed sharply or in an approximately spherical shape.Since the cross-sectional area of the support leg frame 220 graduallydecreases toward the tip end 223, its rigidity becomes less toward thetip end 223. Accordingly, when the support leg frame 220 and the supportleg portion 230 are molded together (for example, insert molding), thesupport leg frame 220 can be smoothly composited with the support legportion 230, thereby achieving superior part workability. Alternatively,an intermediate portion 222 between the base portion 221 and the tip end223 of the support leg frame 220 may have a constant cross-sectionalarea or a constant longitudinal-sectional area in the longitudinaldirection. In this case, the cross-sectional area or thelongitudinal-sectional area of the support leg frame 220 graduallydecreases from the intermediate portion 222 toward the tip end 223.

Since the support leg frame 220 is made of a metallic material, thesupport leg frame 220 can be formed thin while ensuring the strengththereof. Thus, the support leg portion 230, which is composited with thesupport leg frame 220, can also have a reinforced strength and be formedthin and light.

Further, the support leg frame 220 has an element for firmly fixing thesupport leg frame 220 to the support leg portion 230 when the supportframe is composited with the support leg portion 230. Said element maybe embodied as a concave portion formed in the support leg frame 220.Specifically, the concave portion includes the following: a hole formedon a surface of the support leg frame 220; a cutout portion formed byroundly concavely cutting out a portion of the support leg frame 220; aneck portion at which the decreasing cross-sectional area of the supportleg frame 220 increases again; or the like.

FIGS. 4A to 4D show various examples of the aforementioned concaveportion. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, as an example of the concaveportion, a plurality of 226 are formed in the vicinity of the tip end ofthe support leg frame 220 along the longitudinal direction thereof. Inthe example shown in FIG. 4B, as an example of the concave portion, aplurality of cutout portions 227 are formed along the longitudinaldirection in the vicinity of the tip end of the support leg frame 220 byroundly concavely cutting out a portion of the support leg frame 220. Inthe example shown in FIG. 4C, as an example of the concave portion, oneneck portion 228 is formed in the vicinity of the tip end 223. Thecross-sectional area or the longitudinal sectional area of the supportleg frame 220, which gradually decreases toward the tip end 223,increases at the neck portion 228. In the example shown in FIG. 4D, twoneck portions 229 are formed as an example of the concave portion. Thecross-sectional area or the longitudinal sectional area of the supportleg frame 220, which gradually decreases toward the tip end 223,increases at the neck portion 229. Due to the aforementioned concaveportion (i.e., the holes 226, the cutout portions 227, or the neckportions 228, 229), the material forming the support leg portion 230fills in the concave portion during compositing the support leg frame220 and the support leg portion 230. Thus, the support leg frame 220 canbe firmly fixed to the support leg portion 230 in the vicinity of thetip end of the support leg frame 220.

When landing a fish, a tension is applied to a fishing line and a loadis transmitted to the guide ring portion 240. The load is borne by thesupport leg portion 230. In the fishing line guide 200, under the momentof a force, the load applied from the fishing line may be concentratedon the interface between the attachment portion 210 and the support legframe 220, i.e. the base portion 221 of the support leg frame 220 or thebase end 214 of the attachment portion 210. However, since theattachment, portion 210 and the support leg frame 220, which areintegrally formed, are made of a metallic material, deformation orbreakage hardly occurs at the base portion 221 of the support leg frame220 or the base end 214 of the attachment portion 210 on which the loadis concentrated.

The support leg portion 230 is smoothly composited with the support legframe 220 along the longitudinal direction throughout at least theoverall length of the support leg frame 220. Herein, the term “at least”includes the following cases: where the support leg portion 230 iscomposited throughout the overall length of the support leg frame 220;and where the support leg portion 230 has a length longer than theoverall length of the support leg frame 220 and therefore has a portionthat is not composited with the support leg frame 220 above the tip endof the support leg frame 220. Further, the term “composited” includesthe following cases: where the support leg frame 220 is fully embeddedin the support leg portion 230 such that the cross-sectional peripheryof the support leg frame 220 is not exposed at all; and where thesupport leg frame 220 is embedded in the support leg portion 230 suchthat at least one longitudinal surface of the support leg frame 220 isexposed, i.e. such that a portion of the cross-sectional periphery ofthe support leg frame 220 is exposed.

In this embodiment, similar to the shape of the support leg frames 220,the support leg portions 230 extend from the base end 214 of theattachment portion 210 in a V-like shape. The guide ring portion 240 islocated at the tip end of the support leg portion 230. The hard ring 250made of a ceramic material is fitted to the guide ring portion 240.

The support leg portion 230 and the guide ring portion 240 are partiallyor wholly made of a plastic material. Said plastic material includes athermoplastic fiber-reinforced plastic or other plastic having superiormoldability.

FIGS. 5A to 5C show the examples of the composition of the support legportion 230 and the support leg frame 220 by a cross-sectional view. Asshown in FIG. 5A, the support leg frame 220 may be embedded in thesupport leg portion 230 such that two surfaces of the support leg frame220 are exposed. Thus, a half (50%) of the cross-sectional periphery ofthe support leg frame 220 is in contact with the support leg portion230. As shown in FIG. 5B, the support leg frame 220 may be embedded inthe support leg portion 230 such that one surface of the support legframe 220 is exposed. As shown in FIG. 5C, the support leg frame 220 maybe fully embedded in the support leg portion 230. Thus, the entirety(100%) of the cross-sectional periphery of the support leg frame 220 isin contact with the support leg portion 230. In other words, regardingthe composition of the support leg frame 220 and the support leg portion230, the range of the cross-sectional composition is 50% to 100% of thecross-sectional periphery of the support leg frame 220. As such, thesupport leg portion 230 is composited with the support leg frame 220throughout the overall length of the support leg frame 220, thus notcreating a step portion throughout the overall length of the support legportion 230. Accordingly, as will be described below, the support legportion does not hinder when the entanglement of the fishing linedisentangles naturally during casting a fishing rig by swing a fishingrod.

The support leg portion 230 is composited with the support leg frame 220up to the base portion 221 of the support leg frame 220 or up to theinterface between the attachment portion 210 and the support leg frame220. Thus, after winding the winding thread 110 around the attachmentportion 210 and then making the coating thereon, no step portion iscreated between the fishing rod 100 and the support leg portion 230,thus not causing the fishing line to be caught.

Since the support leg frame 220 has a sectional area graduallydecreasing toward the tip end 223 thereof, the rigidity of the supportleg portion 230 becomes less toward the tip end 223 and the support legportion 230 has superior flexibility accordingly. Further, when thesupport leg portion 230 is bent by an external force applied through thefishing line or a wind force the superior flexibility in the vicinity ofthe tip end 223 of the support leg frame 220 prevents a separation ofthe support leg frame 220 and the support leg portion 230.

With reference to FIGS. 6 to 9, descriptions are made as to compositionexamples of the support leg portion 230 in the vicinity of the baseportion of the support leg frame 220 and winding examples of the windingthread 110 in conjunction with such composition examples.

Referring to FIG. 6, the support leg portion 230 may be composited withthe support leg frame 220 such that the support leg portion is incontact with the upper surface 211 of the attachment portion 210. Inother words, the support leg portion 230 may be composited with thesupport leg frame 220 such that a lower end 231 of the support legportion 230, which faces toward the upper surface 211 of the attachmentportion 210, is in contact with the upper surface 211 of the attachmentportion 210. Thus, the entire region (denoted by B1 in FIG. 6) of theupper surface 211 of the attachment portion 210 is divided into anexposed region (denoted by B2 in FIG. 6) and a region hidden by thesupport leg portion 230. In this embodiment, a ratio of the length ofthe region B2 of the upper surface 211 of the attachment portion 210,which is not hidden by the support leg portion 230 and is exposed, tothe entire region B1 of the upper surface 211 (i.e., (B2/B1)×100) is 80%or more. In this regard, said ratio may be an area ratio of the regionB2 of the upper surface 211, which is not hidden by the support legportion 230 and is exposed, to the entire region B1 of the upper surface211. If the exposure ratio of the exposed region B2 is less than 80%,then the amount of the winding thread 110 for the attachment portion 210is reduced and therefore the required attachment strength cannot beachieved. FIG. 7 illustrates that the winding thread 110 is wound aroundthe attachment portion 210 shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 8, the support leg portion 230 and the support legframe 220 may be composited with each other such that a groove or gap Ghaving a predetermined size exists between the upper surface 211 of theattachment portion 210 and the lower end 231 of the support leg portion230 facing the upper surface 211 of the support leg portion 230. Thesize of the gap G may vary depending on the thickness of the windingthread 110, the application thickness of the adhesive, and so forth. Thesize of the gap G is set such that, when winding the winding thread 110around the attachment portion 210, the winding thread 110 can be woundin the gap G. By way of example, the size of the gap G may be 2 mm orless. Due to the gap G, most of the entirety of the upper surface 211 ofthe attachment portion 210 is exposed. Thus, much winding thread 110 canbe wound around the attachment portion 210 and the fishing line guide200 can be more firmly attached to the fishing rod 100.

FIG. 8 illustrates that the surface of the support leg frame 220 ispartially exposed through the gap G existing between the upper surface211 of the attachment portion 210 and the lower end 231 of the supportleg portion 230. However, the support leg portion 230 may be compositedwith the support leg frame 220 such that the gap G exists between thesupport leg portion and the upper surface 211 of the attachment portion210 but the support leg frame 220 is not exposed through the gap G. FIG.9 illustrates that the winding thread 110 is wound around the attachmentportion 210 shown in FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 9, if the adhesive isapplied to the wound winding thread 110, then the adhesive fills in thegap G due to a surface tension or a capillary phenomenon, thus creatingno step portion between the coating layer 120 and the support legportion 230. Further, at the surface of the support leg frame 220 whichis opposite to the surface of the support leg frame 220 at which the gapG exists, the support leg portion 230 partially or wholly comes intocontact with the fishing rod 100. Thus, although the coating layer 120is not formed around the overall circumference of the lower end of thesupport leg portion 230, a step portion is not created between thefishing rod 100 and the support leg portion 230 and the fishing lineguide is not caught.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a fishing line guide according to anotherembodiment. When comparing the fishing line guide 300 shown in FIG. 10with the fishing line guide 200 of the above-described embodiment, thefishing line guide 300 is configured such that a base portion 321 of asupport leg frame 320 is differently shaped and a lower end of a supportleg portion 330 is differently shaped accordingly.

Referring to FIG. 11, the base portions 321 of the respective supportleg frames 320 are not integrated together via a common portion, but areconnected to the base end 214 of the attachment portion 210respectively. Further, the respective support leg portions 330 may becomposited with the respective support leg frames 320 such that thelower end facing toward the attachment portion 210 is in contact with orspaced apart from the upper surface of the attachment portion 210.

FIGS. 12 and 13 showing a fishing line guide according to yet anotherembodiment. The fishing line guide 400 shown in FIG. 12 has the sameconfiguration as the above-described fishing line guide 200 except thatthe fishing line guide 400 includes one support leg portion 430 and onesupport leg frame 420. The support leg frame 420 is joined to the baseend of the attachment portion 210 at a base portion 421 thereof. Thecross-sectional area of the support leg frame 420 gradually decreasesfrom the base portion 421 toward a tip end 423.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show a fishing line guide according to still anotherembodiment. The fishing line guide 500 shown in FIG. 14 has the sameconfiguration as the above-described fishing line guide 200 except thatthe shape of the attachment portion is modified and that the fishingline guide further includes an auxiliary attachment portion, anauxiliary support leg frame and an auxiliary support leg portion.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the fishing line guide 500 in includes anauxiliary support leg portion 580 extending from the guide ring portion240. The auxiliary support leg portion 580 is located opposite thesupport leg portion 230 with respect to the guide ring portion 240.

When viewed from side, the angle between the support leg portion 230 andthe auxiliary support leg portion 580 may be appropriately determined inview of the required strength of the fishing line guide 500. Further,for connection of the auxiliary support leg portion 580 to the fishingrod, the fishing line guide further includes an auxiliary attachmentportion 560 and an auxiliary support leg frame 570 integrally extendingfrom a base end of the auxiliary attachment portion 560. The auxiliarysupport leg portion 580 is composited with the auxiliary support legframe 570 throughout at least the overall length of the auxiliarysupport leg frame 570. The composition type for the auxiliary supportleg frame 570 and the auxiliary support leg portion 580 is the same asthe composition type of the above-described fishing line guide 200.Further, the cross-sectional shape of the auxiliary support leg frame570 and the configuration of the tip end of the auxiliary support legframe 570 are the same as those of the support leg frame 220 of thefishing line guide 200. Further, the support leg frame 420 and thesupport leg portion 430, which are described with reference to FIGS. 12and 13, may be employed as the auxiliary support leg frame 570 and theauxiliary support leg portion 580.

As to the above-described fishing line guide 200, 300, 400 or 500, acombination of the attachment portion 210 or 510 and the support legframe 220, 320 or 420 is formed first and then the support leg portion230, 330 or 430 and the guide ring portion 240 are formed.

The combination wherein the attachment portion 210 or 510 and thesupport leg frame 220, 320 or 420 are integrated together may be formedby pressing. Further, the tip end portion of the attachment portion 210or 510 may be formed sharp and thin by cutting. To form the support legportion 230, 330 or 430 and the guide ring portion 240 by means of theaforementioned combination may be performed by insert molding. By way ofexample, the support leg portion 230, 330 or 430, which is compositedthroughout at least the overall length of the support leg frame 220, 320or 420 up to the attachment portion 210 or 510, and the guide ringportion 240, which is formed on the support leg portion, may be obtainedthrough the following: the support leg frame 220, 320 or 420 of theaforementioned combination is disposed in a mold having the shape of thesupport leg portion 230, 330 or 430 and the guide ring portion 240;molten liquid of a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced plastic or otherthermoplastic is injected into the mold; and molding is performed.

Said forming the support leg portion 230, 330 or 430 and the guide ringportion 240 by means of the aforementioned combination may be performedby prepreg laminate molding, i.e. laminate molding of resinpre-impregnated material. FIGS. 16A to 16C illustrate that the supportleg portion and the guide ring portion are fabricated by laminatemolding of resin pre-impregnated material. As shown in FIG. 16A, thesupport leg portions which are composited with the support leg frames220, can be obtained by inserting the support leg frames 220 of theaforementioned combination in between a plurality of resinpre-impregnated materials 261, 262 and 263 and then compressing theresin pre-impregnated materials. The fishing line guide 200 can beobtained by cutting or grinding the laminated resin pre-impregnatedmaterials in conformity with the shape of the fishing line guide 200.The fishing line guide 200 finished by cutting or grinding is shown inFIG. 16C. In the example shown in FIG. 16A, three resin pre-impregnatedmaterials 261, 262 and 263 are used and an intermediate resinpre-impregnated material 262 is formed with a V-shaped cutout 264 whichcorresponds to the shape of the support leg frames 220.

One example of the characteristic shape, which disentangles theentanglement of the fishing line in the fishing line guide 200 accordingto the above-described embodiment, is shown in FIGS. 7A to 17E. Thefishing line, which passes through the guide ring portion of the fishingline guide immediately after casting, may be wound and entangled withthe guide ring portion. In this regard, Korean Patent RegistrationPublication No. 10-1132437 describes, in paragraph [00041], thephenomenon of such entanglement. FIGS. 17A to 17E sequentially show thata folded portion 131, which the fishing line 130 makes around thefishing line guide 200, smoothly moves to disentangle the entanglementof the fishing line when the fishing line 130 is wound and entangledwith the guide ring portion during a fishing rig.

In the fishing line guide 200, since the support leg portions 230 arecomposited with the support leg frames 220 throughout at least theoverall length of the support leg frames 220, the support leg frames 220and the support leg portions 230 are smoothly formed without any stepportion in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, although theentanglement of the fishing line 130 occurs at the guide ring portion ofthe fishing line guide 200 (see FIGS. 17A and 17B), the folded portion131 of the fishing line 130 is smoothly moved along the support legportion 230 along with being pulled of the fishing line 130 in theapproximately longitudinal direction of the fishing rod 100, thus easilydisentangling the entanglement of fishing line (see FIGS. 17C to 17E).

Further, to facilitate the disentanglement of the entangled fishingline, when the fishing line guide 200 is attached to the fishing rod100, it is preferable that the guide ring portion 240 is inclined towardthe tip of the fishing rod 100 (toward the right side in FIG. 7) andthat a join angle between the guide ring portion 240 and the support legportion 230 toward the butt of the fishing rod is less than a join anglebetween the guide ring portion and the support leg portion toward thetip of the fishing rod, as shown in FIG. 7.

Other examples of the entanglement of the fishing line other than theaforementioned example may exist. The entanglement of the fishing lineis disentangled as the fishing line slides and moves along the surfaceof the fishing line guide 200. Therefore, it is important with regard tothe disentanglement of the entangled fishing line that the support legframes 220 and the support leg portions 230 are smoothly formed withoutany step portion in the longitudinal direction.

To compare with the disentanglement of the entangled fishing line, whichis achieved through the smooth movement of the folded portion 131 of thefishing line 130 as shown in FIGS. 17A to 17E, FIGS. 18A to FIG. 18Cshow an example wherein an entangled fishing line is not disentangled ina fishing line guide according to a comparative example. Referring toFIGS. 18A to 18C, in case of the fishing line guide 200′ according to acomparative example, support leg portions 230′ are not composited withsupport leg frames 220′ throughout the overall length of the support legframes 220′. Thus, the support leg frames 220′ are exposed throughoutthe considerable length thereof and the lower ends 231′ of the supportleg portions 230′ facing toward the attachment portion serve as a stepportion in the longitudinal direction between the support leg portions230′ and the support leg frames 220′. Thus, the folded portion 131,which is formed around the support leg frames 220′ during casting offishing, is caught by the lower end 231′ which serves as the stepportion (see FIG. 18C). Consequently, when the fishing line 130 ispulled in the longitudinal direction of the fishing rod 100, the foldedportion 131 of the fishing line 130 is not pulled up and thus theentanglement of the fishing line is not easily disentangled.

FIG. 19 illustrates that another fishing rod part according to thepresent invention is attached to the fishing rod. In FIG. 19, a reelseat 600, which is another example of the fishing rod part, is attachedto the fishing rod 100. The reel seat 600 is attached to the fishing rod100 by bringing the attachment portions located at the opposite ends ofthe reel seat into contact with the fishing rod 100 and closely windingthe winding thread 110 around the attachment portions. After theattachment of the reel seat 600, the adhesive is applied on the portionaround which the winding thread 110 is wound, thereby forming thecoating layer 120 which covers the portion around which the windingthread 110 is wound.

FIGS. 20 to 22 show the reel seat shown in FIG. 19 in detail. The reelseat 600 according to one embodiment includes attachment portions 610and support leg frames 620 which are configured similar to theattachment portion 210 and the support leg frame 220 of theabove-described fishing line guide 200. Further, the reel seat 600includes; a seat body 630, which is composited with the support legframes 620 throughout at least the overall length of the support legframes 620; and a fixed holder 641 and a movable holder 642 coupled tothe seat body 630. The movable holder 642 is movable toward or away fromthe fixed holder 641 along the seat body 630. A reel (not shown) ismounted on the seat body 630 between the fixed holder 641 and themovable holder 642.

Similar to the combination of the attachment portion 210 and the supportleg frame 220 of the above-described fishing line guide 200, theattachment portion 410 and the support leg frame 620 are integrallyformed and are made of a metallic material. The support leg frame 620extends in a U-like shape from a base end 614 of the attachment portion610. The attachment portion 210 or 510 and the support leg frame 220,320 or 420 of the above-described fishing line guides 200, 300, 400 and500 may be used as the attachment portion 610 and the support leg frame620 of the reel seat 600.

In this embodiment, a pair of combinations of the attachment portion 610and the support leg frame 620 are coupled to the seat body 630. Thecombinations of the attachment portion 610 and the support kg frame 620are disposed at the longitudinal opposite ends of the seat body 630. Theseat body 630 is composited with the support leg frames 620 throughoutpredetermined sections from its either end toward inside. The seat body430 is made of a fiber-reinforced plastic or other plastic materialhaving superior moldability. The metallic material which forms theattachment portion 210 and the support leg frame 220 of theabove-described fishing line guide 200 may be employed as a metallicmaterial for forming the combination of the attachment portion 610 andthe support leg frame 620. Further, the plastic material which isemployed for the support leg portion 230 of the above-described fishingline guide 200 may be employed as a plastic material which is employedfor the seat body 630. The seat body 630 of the reel seat 600 may beformed by the following; forming the combinations of the attachmentportion 610 and the support leg frame 620 and then performing theabove-described insert molding or laminate molding of resinpre-impregnated material on the support leg frames 620 of thecombinations.

In the reel seat 600 according to the embodiment, the attachmentportions 610, which are attached to the fishing rod 100, and the supportleg frames 620, which extend from the attachment portion 610, are madeof a metallic material and thus has superior workability. The seat body630 is made of a plastic material, thus achieving weight reduction.

The present invention described heretofore should not be limited to theabove-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings. For example,while the fishing rod part is attached to the fishing rod by means ofthe winding thread wound around the attachment portion in theabove-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, the means forattaching the fishing rod part to the fishing rod is not limitedthereto. The fishing rod part may be attached to the fishing rod usingan adhesive tape (e.g., a polyester sticky tape) wound around theattachment portion or a rubber tube to which the attachment portion isinserted. Further, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in thetechnical field to which the present invention pertains, that varioussubstitutions, modifications and alternations may be made withoutdeparting from the technical idea of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

100 fishing rod, 110 winding thread, 120 coating layer, 130 fishingline, 200, 300, 400, 500 fishing line guide, 210, 510 attachmentportion, 211 upper surface, 212 lower surface, 213 tip end, 214 baseend, 215 tip end portion, 220, 320, 420 support leg frame, 221, 321, 421base portion, 222, 422 intermediate portion, 223, 323, 423 tip end, 230,330, 430 support leg portion, 231 lower end facing toward attachmentportion, 240 guide ring portion, 250 hard ring, 261, 262, 263 resinpre-impregnated material, 264 cutout, 560 auxiliary attachment portion,570 auxiliary support leg frame, 580 auxiliary support leg portion, 600reel seat, 610 attachment portion, 614 base end, 620 support leg frame,621 base portion, 623 tip end, 630 seat body, 641 fixed bolder, 642movable holder

What is claimed is:
 1. A reel seat, comprising; an attachment portionhaving a tip end and a base end and contacting a fishing rod, a windingthread being wound around the attachment portion; a support leg frameextending from the base end of the attachment portion and integrallyformed with the attachment portion; and a seat body extending from thebase end of the attachment portion and composited with the support legframe throughout at least an overall length of the support leg frame, areel being mounted on the seat body, wherein the attachment portion andthe support leg frame are made of a metallic material, wherein the seatbody is partially or wholly made of a plastic material, and wherein asectional area of at least a portion of the support leg frame graduallydecreases toward a tip end of the support leg frame.
 2. A fishing rodincluding the reel seat of claim 2.